What Are Sailboat Sails Made Out Of?

Sailors might choose a sail fabric for strength, speed or appearance.

Sailors prefer sails made from various materials for different reasons. Some fabrics, such as polytarp, are limited in color selection. Racers might prefer a lightweight material to maximize speed.

Dacron

Dacron is a trademark name for a polyester fiber-woven fabric. This material varies in thickness and strength, depending on its weave. It is used for sailboat sails because of its resistance to stretching.

Laminate

According to Jeckells, a European sail-production company, laminate is a combination of fabric and film. Laminate sails are expensive and are used primarily for racing. Designed for speed, laminate sails are lightweight.

Polytarp

This is the most common type of sail, according to the website Messing-About. This material is inexpensive and available at home supply stores. The strength of polytarp is average among sail material; if protected from sunlight, it will last several years.

References

• Messing About: Sails and Sail Materials
• Jeckells: Sail Cloth
• Encyclopedia.com: "The Columbia Encyclopedia"; Dacron

Resources

• SailCloth.com